Vapor phase rleaching



Patented Apr. 25, 1939 umran STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,155,728 VAPOR PHASE BLEACHING Paul La Frone Magill, Ranso signor to E. I. du Pont de mville, N. Y., as- Ncmours & Company, Wilmington, DeL, a corporation of Del- No Drawing. Application December Serial No. 182,842 r 2 Claims. 8-108) (CI-IDsCLOCI in the vapor phase for the bleaching of various 1 materials.

The novel organic hypochiorite which I utilize for the vapor phase bleaching of materials, such as textile fabrics, fruits be bleached, is a pale yellow mobile liquid having an irritating odor. It is exceedingly stable in the dark and may be kept for months if not exposed to the direct rays of sunlight. when exposed to direct sunlight it is but slightly decomposed but will quietly decompose upon prolonged exposure.

It boils at a temperature of approximately 80 C. at atmospheric pressure and the vapors have been found to be exceedingly effective as a bleaching agent.

In a co-pending application of Paul J. Carlisle,

Serial Number flied December 30, 1937,

the use of tertiary butyl hypochiorite as a bleaching and deodorizing agent for the treatment of textile fabrics, foodstufls, oils, fats, waxes and other materials so lates solely to the use of this bleaching agent in asanexampleoftheuseoitertiarybutylhypoor other materials to is disclosed. My invention rechlor'ite for the vapor phase bleaching of various materials, the following maybe given. It should be understood that this example is merely illustrative, and is not to be construed as restricting the nature of materials which I have succeeded in bleaching in the vapor phase by the use of vapors of tertiary butyl hypochlorite.

Example Tertiary butyl hypochlorite is vaporized at atmospheric pressure and the vapors carried by means of a current of air through dry cotton piece goods. At the end of fifteen minutes it was observed that the cotton was bleached to a substantial degree. After passage through the cotton the vapors were condensed; returned to the vaporizer, and again transmitted through the fabric. Similar results were obtained when treating other textile fabrics such as linen, wool, silk, etc

It is to be understood that various changes might be made in the procedure described above which will still fall within the scope of my invention. The breadth of invention is to be determined, not by the details given merely as illus- 2g trative', but in accordance with the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A process of bleaching dark-colored materials whlch comprises the step of contacting said materials with the vapors of tertiary butyl hypochlorite.

2. A process of bleaching a textile fabric which consists in passing vaporized tertiary butyl hypocblorite through said fabric.

PAUL LA FRONE MAGILL. 

